Pre-Saturated Cloths Battle Hospital-Acquired Infections

New post-operative cloths impregnated with a 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) can reduce the risk of surgical site infections (SSIs).

The Medline (Mundelein, IL, USA) ReadyPrep CHG wipes provide a comprehensive antiseptic solution to help clinicians consistently and safely reduce Staphylococcus aureus colonization to the three main sources of bacterial infection: the skin, mouth, and nose. The single fiber, 100% polyester cloth effectively and consistently releases CHG on skin, killing not only Staphylococcus aureus, but other microorganisms as well, including E. coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Burkholderia cepacia, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, and Staphylococcus epidermidis.


The new clothes are large (68% larger than standard cloth wipes), and provide protection for up to six hours after application. A moisture-retaining packaging and a cutting-edge film barrier with a low moisture vapor transition rate (MVTR) helps keep the cloths moist and viable for extended periods of time, providing a long shelf life of up to two years, thus reducing unnecessary waste and saving money. In conjunction with the launch of the ReadyPrep CHG Cloths, Medline is also introducing a Total Prep System to help reduce Staph aureus.

“Thirty percent of the patient population is colonized with Staphylococcus aureus, and it is the leading pathogen that causes surgical site infections. An effective antiseptic like chlorhexidine gluconate can help prevent infections before a surgical procedure,” said Rosie Lyles, MD, MHA, MSc, clinical affairs director at Medline. “When two percent CHG is pre-saturated on a cloth, it is ready for the healthcare provider to use. This helps drive standardization, and clinicians can feel confident they are effectively prepping the skin.”

SSI is the most common postoperative complication, occurring in approximately 2-5% of patients who undergo clean extra-abdominal surgeries, such as thoracic and orthopedic surgery, and in up to 20% of patients who undergo intra-abdominal surgery interventions. Besides the pain and suffering to patients, it could lead to catastrophic health expenditure and impoverishment to those patients who are required to pay for their own treatment, and a significant financial burden on healthcare providers.

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